Method and apparatus for making steel ingots



Sept 1, 1925. v 1,552,251

E. C. WASHBURN IBTHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STEEL INGOTS Filed Nay13. 1922 Patented Sept. 1 1 925,

UNITED stares P TENT QFFICE.

EDWIN G. WASHBURN, 033 ENGLEWQOD, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STEEL INGOTS.

Application filed. May 13, 1922. swarm. 560,741. I

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which is appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates-to a method and apparatus for producing iron orsteel ingots. It is well known to those skilled in theart that it is nowthe common practice to cast such ingots in elongated vertical molds.This results in a collection or segregation of impurities in the metalat the upper portion of the ingot and also in what is known as piping.This latter comprises a formation of a tapering cavity extending downward into the ingot from the top surface substantially at the verticalaxis thereof and there is alwaysa collection of impurities adjacent toand extending downward from this pipe. This necessitates the cutting offof the end of the ingot and the discarding of the same before the ingotis rolled into the desired shapes. In spite of the fact that such alarge portion of the ingot it cut away and discarded, the segregation ofthe impurities and the extension of the piping often remains in the partof the ingot used and is rolled out or striated to a narrow dimensionduring the rolling process, thus forming a faulty section in thematerial which isoften not discovered until the metal fails in use. Itis an object of this invention, therefore, to so cast and produce aningot that this objectionable piping and segregation of impurities isavoided.

It is a further object of the invention to cast the ingot in anelongated mold which is disposed on its side during the castingoperation and which has a gate at the top extending longitudinallythereof so that a projection of metal'is formed extending into the gate.The impurities segregate in this projection and the projection isremoved after the ingot has solidified to a certain extent. r I

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus forcasting the ingot comprisingan-elongated mold having means forsupporting the same on its side, said mold having an opening at its topportion extending longitudinally thereof, above wltich projects a troughforming a pouring gae.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a trough ofrectangular cross section having one of its diagonals extendingsubstantiallyvertical and also to have such a mold formed of sectionsdivided about a vertical central plane of the mold.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings whichillustrate one form of the apparatus forcarrying out the method disclosed hereinand in which like referencecharacters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, andin which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus, a small portionthereof being shown in section; v

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of F 1g. 1, aslndicated by the arrows; 1

Fig. 4 is a partial view in'plan of the apparatus; i r Fig. 5 is a viewof another part of th apparatus used in carrying out the method; I

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 6-6' of Fig. 5,as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of the apparatusshown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings,. a mold is shown comprising a rectangular boxof elongated shape formed of sections 1 and 2 divided along the centralvertical plane of the mold, which mold is disposed with one of itsdiagonals extending substantially vertically. The mold is .closed, savefor an opening extending longitudinally along its top, above whichopening a trough 3 of flaring formation extends, which trough forms apouring ate. The sections land 2 are each provide with a groove 4:extending longitudinally along the lower contacting riveted to thechannel members i? i edges, which grooves co-operate to form a channeladapted to receive a sealing substance in the bottom of the mold. Thesec tions 1 and 2 are also each provided with a transverse groove 5disposed in a projection 6 at the ends thereof, which groove are adaptedto receive a sealing member, such as a common brick which will thusextend across the trough 3 and close the ends thereof. vided at theirends with projecting trunnions or pintles 7 adapted to be engaged bygrappling hoolrs 8 extending from members 9 secured transversely of alongitudinally extending member 10, which latter member carries an eyebolt 11 adapted to be engaged by the hook or a crane. Sections 1 and 2also have at their ends a lug 12 and receiving channels 13,respectively, adapted to move into engagement ant. guide the sections 1and 2 into proper allnement when the said sections are brought together.The sections are also provided at their ends with a locking pin 14 and alocking dog 15,

respectively. Said dog having a hool: one end adapted to engage over thepin 14: to hold the sections in assembled position and having aprojection 16 at its other end adapted to be pressed upon or struck todisengage the said hool; from the pin 14. The appa'atus also includes asupportiig member for the mold sections 1 and 2 which membercoinprises'spaced transversely extending channel members 1! and spacedvertically inclined diverging channel members 18, the channel members 1?and 18 being connected by vertical plates 19 and 20 and bylongitudinally extending plates 21 hav-n ing their ends bent'around andriveted to the plates 19, the plates 19 and 20 being id 18. Thesupporting member thus has the members 18 extending so as to contact andsupport the lower sides of the mold sectiz is l and 2 when the mold isin position the access to the gate trough 3 and ample opportunity torise thereto; Such impurities therefore will collect at the top cornerof the ingot and in the trough S; It will be no'tedthat the deptho't theingot, from the gate being compz-arativelysmall, the in purities willhave practically no obstruction The sections 1 and 2 are -further proinrising to the surface of the ingot. The upwardly converging top sides ofthe mold will not interfere seriously with this move ment. The metalwill be poured so as to practically fill the gate 3 and there will thusbe ample opportunity for the segregation above mentioned.

The metal will be allowed to solidify in the mold and after the same hashardened, but before the ingot is cold, the mold will be liftedirom thesupporting member and moved to a machine comprising a cutter suc asshown in Figs. 5 to 2 which cutter will l are blades 22 thereon and willbe re volved about its axis 23. The mold will be suitably supported withits top uppermost so that the gate portion will be progressed directlyunder the cutter blades This cutter will act substantially the same as amilling cutter and will cut or remove a portion of the metal at the topcorner of the mold and that portion projecting into the gate 3. Ifdesired, the cutter may be formed with acentral notch 24- in the blades,as shown in Fig. 7, so that a corner will be formed on the top edge ofthe ingot. The metal projecting into the gate at the top edge 01"" themold removed and substantially all gated impurities which tendobjectionable piping in the removed therefrom. The ingot thus producedwill be of uniformconstituency and formationthroughout and When rolledinto shapes for use the metal will have a uniform condition of purity.

After the ingot has had the top thereof removed, the mold can be againengaged by the crane and carried to the desired dis charging point. itwill only be necessary to strike the projection 16 of the dog 15 torelease the sections when the same will swing apart owing to converginghook sup ports 8. The ingot will thus be dropped out of the lower sidesof the sections and can be placed as desired. The sections 1 and 2 willbe carried back to the supporting device comprising the channel members18 and as the sections are lowered into the support they will be guidedinto proper as" sembled relation by the members 18 and further by theengaging lugs 12 and 13 on the ends of the sections. j Y

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided anovel and efficient method and apparatus for producing an ingot. Themethod has been used in actual practice and the ingot produced has givenmost successful results. The segregated inipuriti'es are substantiallyeliminated and the objectionable piping of the ingot avoided. It is thusnot necessary to cut away a large section of the ingot containing muchgood metal 'in order to eliminate a. section ot""pipin'g. The savingorm'etal will. thus be of the segreto cause the ingot will be j trough 3and and labor by the use of the present method and apparatus will bevery large and the improved ingot can at the sametime be made with greatease and rapidity.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details and arrangement of the apparatus and in the steps ofthe method, without departing from the scope of applicants inven tion,which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described andset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of producing a steel ingot of rectangular cross section,consisting in casting the same in substantially horizontal position withone corner thereof upward.

2. The process of producing a metal ingot of rectangular cross sectionconsisting in casting the same in substantially horizontal position withone corner upward and with a gate member extending longitudinally at thetop thereof forming a projection, permitting the ingot to solidify andthen removing said projection.

3'. The method of producing a metal ingot which consists in casting thesame of elongated shape of uniform cross section with its longitudinalside upward and from a gate extending longitudinally of its top sidewhereby a projection is formed along its top side, allowing the ingot tosolidify and before the same has cooled, removing the projection atitstop side.

4. An apparatus for producing a metal ingot comprising a mold consistingof an elongated divided rectangular box having one corner disposedupwardly and a gate trough extending along and projecting above anopening formed at the top of said box.

5. An apparatus for producing a metal ingot comprising an elongatedrectangular mold of uniform cross section, said mold being disposed withone corner upward and divided into sections along a central verticalplane, said mold being closed save for an openingextendinglongitudinally at its top, and a gate trough projecting above saidopening at said corner and extending longitudinally of the mold.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, said sections having co-operatinggrooves along the lower meeting edges adapted to receive a sealingsubstance.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5, said trough having transversegrooves adjacent the ends thereof adapted to receive a sealing memberfor closingthe ends of said trough.

8. An apparatus for molding a steel ingot, comprising, an elongated moldof rectangular cross section disposed with one diagonal thereofextending substantially vertical, said mold being divided into sectionsalong a central vertical plane, a sup port for said mold havingupwardlydiverg ing diagonal members adapted to contact with and supportthe lower surface of said sections and to hold the same in assembledrelation. i

9. The structure set forth in claim 5, said sections having projectionsat their ends disposed adjacent their outer sides for en gagment by alifting device, whereby said sections will swing apart when lifted.

10. The method of producing a metal ingot of rectangular cross sectionconsisting in casting the'same with one corner upward and pouring. thesame throughout the longitudinal extent thereof to 'form a projectingportion along the top thereof, permitting the ingot to solidify, andthen removing said projection before the ingot is cooled with a toolhaving a recesstherein, thesides of which are at right angles to eachother whereby a true corner is left on theupper side of the ingot.

11. A mold arranged for longitudinal pouring disposed with one cornerupwardly and having a gate or feeder portion extending longitudinallythereof at said corner and throughout substantially the entire length ofsaid mold. i

12. A mold arranged for longitudinalopen contracted portion serving as acommunication between the mold and said riser portion said portionsextending upwardly from said corner.

13. A mold comprising relatively movable sections, trunnions thereon,.at each side of the longitudinal center line of said sections, linksconnected to these trunnions, a bar connected to said links and adaptedto be raised to swing said sections apart.

14. A mold comprising relatively movable sections each havinginclinedouter sides, and a supporting frame therefor having inclinedinner sides adapted to receive said sections and move said sections intoalinement when the same are lowered thereinto.

15. A mold for a steel ingot comprising, a mold of rectangular crosssection disposed with one corner upward and a pouring gate the ends andadjacent the outer sides of said sections whereby said sections willswing apart when lifted by said means.

17, A mold of rectangular cross section disposed with one cornerupwardly, and

means disposed at said corner and extending thereabove throughout thelength of said mold for pouring metal into said mold. 18. A moldcomprising separable sections, each section having a recess thereinextendly and having a riser head portion and an ing from its inner side,said recess in the' respective sections being alined and adapted toreceive a sealing member.

19. A mold comprising a plurality of sections, means secured to eachsection and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom a member to whichthe upper ends of said means are connect-ed whereby when said member islifted the sections will swing apart.

- 20. An apparatus for producing a metal ingot comprising an elongatedrectangular mold of uniform cross section, said mold being divided intosections along a central vertical plane, said mold being closed save foran opening extending longitudinally at its top and a gatetroughprojecting above said opening and extending longitudinally of saidmold, said trough having transverse grooves adjacent the ends thereofadapted to receive a' sealing member for closing the ends or saidtrough.

21. An apparatus for molding a steel ingot comprising an elongated moldof substantially uniform cross section, said mold being divided intosections along a central ends disposed adjacent their outer sides forengagement by a lifting device whereby said sections will swing apartwhen lifted.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

I EDWIN o. wAsHBURN.

